Can In Past Tense: 7 Facts You Should Know

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The modal verb “can” change its form in the past tense. Now, we are going to look at the past form of the modal verb “can.”

The modal verb “can” changes its form in the past tense and becomes “could”. The formation of sentences with “could” is different for simple past tense and past perfect tense.

Now, let us check the uses of the modal verb “could” in the past tense.

Forms of can used in past tense –

The “past simple” form of the modal verb “can” is “could” and the “past participle” form of “can” is “been able”. Now, we will go through forms of “can” used in simple past tense.

Serial NumberType of SentencePersonForm
1Affirmative Past TenseFirst Person Singular Numbercould
2Affirmative Past TenseFirst Person Plural Numbercould
3Affirmative Past TenseSecond Person Singular Numbercould
4Affirmative Past TenseSecond Person Plural Numbercould
5Affirmative Past TenseThird Person Singular Numbercould
6Affirmative Past TenseThird Person Plural Numbercould
7Negative Past TenseFirst Person Singular Numbercould not / couldn’t
8Negative Past TenseFirst Person Plural Numbercould not / couldn’t
9Negative Past TenseSecond Person Singular Numbercould not / couldn’t
10Negative Past TenseSecond Person Plural Numbercould not / couldn’t
11Negative Past TenseThird Person Singular Numbercould not / couldn’t
12Negative Past TenseThird Person Plural Numbercould not / couldn’t
Forms of can used in past tense

Example – Pijush could have taken history as an optional subject when he was doing his B.A.

Explanation –

The affirmative past perfect tense has been framed with the modal auxiliary verb “could” to refer to a possibility that Pijush could have opted in past.

How can is used in the past tense –

The past form of “can” is normally used in six types of sentences in the past tense.

Serial NumberType of SentenceExample
1.Affirmative Simple Past Tense Sentence with “Could”I could play badminton when I was a teenager.
2.Negative Simple Past Tense Sentence with “Can”I could not play badminton when I was a teenager.
3.Interrogative Affirmative Simple Past Tense Sentence with “Can”Could I use your tennis bat to play the game?
4.Interrogative Negative Simple Past Tense Sentence with “Can”Could I not use your tennis bat to play the game?
5.Affirmative Past Perfect Tense Sentence with “Could”You could have brought some chocolates for your niece.
6.Negative Past Perfect Tense Sentence with “Can”I could not have made it on time because there was heavy traffic on the road.
7.Interrogative  Affirmative Past Perfect Tense Sentence with “Can”Could I have breakfast with your family in the morning?
8.Interrogative  Negative Past Perfect Tense Sentence with “Can”Could I not have breakfast with your family in the morning?
Ways of using “can” in past tense

Explanation –

“Could” is in use along with the root form of the main verb to frame sentences in “Simple Past Tense”“. “Could” can stand alone in the past perfect tense as the verb “have” plays the role of the main verb in the past perfect tense sentences.

When can is used in past tense –

The foremost use of “can” in the past tense is to show the ‘general ability’ of a person. Let us go through other uses of “can” in the past tense.

Serial NumberPurposeExample
1.General ability of a personI could walk 5 kilometers at a time when I was in school.
2.To ask permission in a polite manner / To do inquiryCould you come to my place on my birthday?
3.To do a requestCould you give me your pen to fill out the form?
4.Possibility in the pastYou could have a head injury due to that road accident.
5.To give suggestionYou could pick any dress according to your choice.
Purpose of using “can” in past tense

Explanation –

“Could” is in use in all these examples to serve any of the abovementioned purposes. We must note that there is always a main verb in the examples to support the past form of the modal auxiliary verb “can”.

Why can is used in past tense –

The negative form of “could” is “could not” and it is often contracted to “couldn’t” in general spoken English. Now, we must go through the reasons behind using “can” in the past tense.

“Could” is the past form of “can” and it is normally used to refer to anyone’s general ability, any possibility, to make a request or to give any suggestion in the past.

Example –You could bring all your family members to this entertainment park to have a nice evening.

Explanation –

“Could” is in use along with the main verb “bring” to frame a simple past tense to serve the purpose ‘a possibility in the past.

Formula and structure of can used in past tense –

Formula and structure of “can” used in past tense can be divided in below listed types.

Serial  NumberTenseType of Sentence with Modal Auxiliary Verb “can”Structure
1.Simple PastAffirmativeSubject + could + present form of main verb + remaining words + full stop mark
2.Simple PastNegativeSubject + could + not + present form of main verb + remaining words + full stop mark
3.  Simple PastInterrogative Affirmative  Could + subject + present form of main verb + remaining words + question mark
4.Simple PastInterrogative NegativeCould not / couldn’t + subject + present form of main verb + remaining words + question mark
5.Past PerfectAffirmativeSubject + could + have + past participle + remaining words + question mark
6.Past PerfectNegativeSubject + could + not + have + past participle + remaining words + question mark
7.Past PerfectInterrogative Affirmative  Could + subject + have + past participle + remaining words + question mark
8.Past PerfectInterrogative NegativeCould + subject + not + have + past participle + remaining words + question mark
Formula and structure of can used in past tense

Examples of can used in past tense –

Let us go through various sentences which are framed with “can” in the past tense.

Serial NumberExampleExplanation
1.I could open the locked gate without the help of anyone.“Could” is in use along with the main verb “open” to refer to ‘general ability’ in this simple past tense.
2.I could have lost my bag, but my friend looked at it on time.“Could” is in use to refer to “possibility” in this past perfect sentence.
3.Could you cook a complete meal for all of us?“Could” is in use to refer to ‘do an inquiry’ in this simple past sentence.
4.Could you come to my place to discuss the assignment?“Could” is in use to refer to ‘do an inquiry’ in the past.
5.I could easily recognize the old friends from my school days.“Could” is in use to refer to “possibility” in this simple past sentence.
6.Could I have a bowl of chicken soup?“Could” is in use to refer to ‘do an inquiry’ in this past perfect sentence.
7.Could you please sit down and have the discussion?“Could” is in use to refer ‘to ask in polite manner’ in this simple past sentence.
8.You could easily find your path of my house, but you didn’t try to find it.“Could” is in use to refer ‘to give a suggestion’ in this simple past sentence.
9.Could they not say sorry to the other passengers on the train?“Could” is in use to refer to ‘do an inquiry’ in this simple past sentence.
10.I could reach there at any time.“Could” is in use to refer to “possibility” in this simple past tense.
11.Could you draw a picture of a rose on the wall?“Could” is in use to refer to ‘do an inquiry’ in this simple past sentence.
Examples of can used in past tense

Conclusion –

We must consider the fact that the modal verb “can” does not have any future form. It has only “past form” and “past participle form” and does not have any future form.